To the Editor: Although tooth loss among elderly
patients is known to be influenced by environmental factors, the role of genetic
factors is largely unknown. A study of US patients, for instance, found some
genetic contribution to the height of alveolar bone that supports the teeth.1 It is likely that the estrogen-receptor (ER) gene
could be associated with tooth loss in women because recent studies2,3 suggest that the long-term estrogen
replacement therapy (ERT) may protect against tooth loss in elderly women.
We investigated the effect of ER genotype on tooth loss and alveolar height
in Japanese women.